Maritime Diary

By National Secretary Paddy Crumlin

The elections are over and we all need to get on with the job. Congratulations go to all the elected officers, and thanks to those officers not returned for the time, effort and commitment they have given our union.
STRENGTH IN UNITY

ACTU Congress

The ACTU Congress is taking place in August. Congress comes at a time of continuing harassment and attempted standover of workers and their unions by some employers with enthusiastic support from Tony Abbott and the Howard Government. Strong Congress resolutions against the continuing casualisation of the Australian workforce, the erosion of workers' union rights and other conditions of employment will be required to help Australian working men and women deal with their problems on the job. The privatisation of Telstra, the continuing sabotage and vandalism of the Medicare system and public education must be opposed by the trade union movement in their campaigns.

Trade unions must also mount a comprehensive campaign against the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). This obnoxious international policy seeks to have Australian workers operating under the same conditions as workers in Third World countries and has contributed to the wholesale abuse of the single and continual voyage permit systems by the federal government encouraging the use of Flag-of-Convenience shipping. It is also an issue in aviation, in particular. The policy that we are seeking to have adopted by Congress goes to the issue of stopping this abuse. The GATS programme is also directed at having stevedoring done by foreign seafarers in port, an issue new being fought out in the European Community by dockworkers and the ITF.

The ACTU Congress should strengthen policies and activities that continue to remove the many barriers to women entering industry and coping with some of the cultural problems that can lead to lack of support. This policy also needs to be complimented with campaigns to balance the needs of family for all workers and the delivery of paid leave entitlements for parents and flexible work practices focussed on job sharing and adequate childcare. The removal of the Howard government in the next election is essential to realise many of these objectives.

Budget busting

The Budget has pumped millions of tax payers' dollars into Customs and port security, but has continued to provide no real safeguard for our maritime borders. There is no restriction at all on cut rate foreign flagged shipping and Flag-of-Convenience shipping which is well known for its links with terrorism, fraud and drug running. A permit ship crewed with guest workers without visas can work off our coast for months or years at a time with no checks. 700 permits last year were issued by this federal government who were so concerned with the security of the nation.

Recently at an International Labour Organisation conference on seafarers' Identity documents they were one of the only governments in the world opposing new documentation that would clearly identify international seafarers as being who they say they are and having the qualifications they are supposed to have. The Australian media continue to ignore the threat opposed by this policy of hypocrisy, so it's up to us as usual. Howard treats thousands of guest workers like royalty while making mileage out of the ongoing political bashing and imprisonment of a handful of refugees and their kids.

Liar, liar, pants on fire

We've all met those people that lie habitually, but occasionally tell the truth. The lies, probably because they are a way of life for those types somehow seem less important, as opposed to someone who never bullshits, but if they do, it seems an enormous breach and is shocking. John Howard clearly falls into the first category. Australia has been launched into our first war where we were the instigator on the back of the Howard doctrine of lying and misinformation. The only weapons of mass destruction are the poverty and dislocation that the Coalition of the Willing have visited upon the Iraqi people.

Sorely missed

Maritime workers and many others walked down 'The Hungry Mile' in Sussex St, Sydney in respect and remembrance to the contribution made by Tassie Bull in his nearly 60 years as a seafarer, wharfie, unionist and internationalist. Tas continued to work in the interests of working men and women and in the struggle against exploitation and oppression through his whole life, a life that is an inspiration for anyone who is generally concerned with building a better world. A great mate and comrade who will be sorely missed.

Election marathon

The Quadrennial elections have been completed. They were a bit of a marathon event. There has been a number of changes and also a large number of officers returned either unopposed or through the process of the election. The bagging our union gets in the media or in publications by organisations outside our union is a bit of a worry. I guess that is the price you pay for being prepared to have a go. The Looney Left seems to hate our union as much as Howard and his business mates. If we're giving both ends of the political spectrum the shits, we must be going OK Nearly 65 per cent of the members took the time to determine the future of their union for the next four years. That is more than double the number of workers that vote in elections conducted by the Electoral Commission.

Regardless of the bagging from some quarters, having our elections run independently by our returning officers, MUA members endorsed by the rank and file, is clearly the reason that so many maritime workers have turned out in a political environment in this country where union bashing is a popular past time. The voter turnout remains healthy and ensures that officers elected are representative of the views of the membership. The new leadership has a great responsibility in these difficult times to ensure that all maritime workers and their families have the protection and support that only a strong, well organised union can provide. The elections are over and we all need to get on with the job. Congratulations go to all the elected officers, and thanks to those officers not returned for the time, effort and commitment they have given our union.

STRENGTH IN UNITY